My path is sometimes the one less traveled. But the road is mine all mine.

Whales leap

We, humans, have added so much noise to their ecosystem. They breach to be heard.

Australian scientists made an important discovery this year. The research was published in the journal Marine Mammal Science. Breaching and slapping play a role in both long-distance and close-range communication.

Breaching is far more common when pods of humpback whales are far apart (at least 4,000 meters or 2.5 miles), and fin or tail slapping is more frequent as groups split or come together. By slamming their massive bodies into the water, the resulting sounds, like a drum, can travel enormous distances.